Designing Conflict Management Systems: A Guide to Creating Productive and Healthy Organizations (Jossey-Bass Conflict Resolution) [Hardcover]

Cathy A. Costantino (Author), Christina Sickles Merchant (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787901628 | ISBN-13: 978-0787901622 | Publication Date: November 10, 1995 | Edition: 1

Expert advice on building better conflict management programs

Conflict in the workplace is always an eventuality. But it needn't be so costly or counter-productive. This book presents a clear, step-by-step approach for developing conflict management systems within any organization that anticipate the inevitability of conflict and deal with it in a effecient, cost-effective way. The authors, both promiment experts in the field, present a structured process for assessing conflict management programs in order to improve them or to implement new ones. As such, this book serves as an excellent resource for organization development and human resource professionals and consultants interested in proactively tackling the business concerns that conflict brings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A real contribution to advancing the field of systems design." (from the foreward by William L. Ury, coauthor of Getting to Yes and author of Getting Past No)

From the Inside Flap

As social stresses escalate and organizations experience more turbulence and uncertainty, conflict in the workplace is on the rise. Corporations, government agencies, and other organizations are finding it increasingly more productive and much more cost-effective to be proactive in designing systems to manage this inevitable conflict, whether systemic or interpersonal. And, as the business climate is getting more turbulent, conflict is increasing and demands attention.This book presents a clear, step-by-step approach for developing and evaluating conflict management systems within any organization. The authors, both prominent experts in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice, government, and the field of conflict resolution present a structured process for helping organization development and human resource professionals and consultants to assess programs to improve them or implement new ones.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (November 10, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787901628
• ISBN-13: 978-0787901622
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Designing Conflict Management Systes, Costantino & Merchant, October 6, 2007

By 

A. Kate (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Designing Conflict Management Systems: A Guide to Creating Productive and Healthy Organizations (Jossey-Bass Conflict Resolution) (Hardcover)

This was a comprehensive, practical-theoretical look at designing dispute resolution systems in business and governmental organisations.

I found it a practical as well as informative book, which will continue to be a handy reference for those doing dispute systems design.

The authors take Ury, Brett & Goldberg's earlier book: Getting Disputes Resolved: Designing Systems to Cut the Cost of Conflict, Jossey-Bass, CA, 1988, into the new areas of application, addressing new issues which adds informative review and new techniques to that original text in DSD.

Costantino and Merchant include sections on:
The Designer as Role Model, Traps and Pitfalls for Designers,and
Organizational Assessment - looking at the big picture in a thorough manner before offering any suggestions.

The book is arranged in 3 sections: Coping with Conflict in Organizations,
Designing and Improving Conflict Management Systems, and Making the System Work. I particularly liked their metaphors, such as "the dark side of Dispute Systems Design", and "Resistance and constraints: having tea with your demons". Indeed a refreshing and welcome addition in the field.

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable resource for OD, HR and conflict mgt pros., August 1, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Designing Conflict Management Systems: A Guide to Creating Productive and Healthy Organizations (Jossey-Bass Conflict Resolution) (Hardcover)

This book contributes mightily to defining how the emerging field of conflict management differs from organizational development, and what they share in common. For this alone it is worth the cover price. But the authors don't stop there. The book is full of practical strategies for developing conflict management systems. And its techniques reflect real world experience, not just theory! But, as a practitioner in this field, I can't say enough thanks to Constantino and Merchant for deepening the exploration of this very important new field!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Desinging Conflict Systems, February 13, 2003

By 

"jshani" (Moreno Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Conflict Management Systems: A Guide to Creating Productive and Healthy Organizations (Jossey-Bass Conflict Resolution) (Hardcover)

This book offers a great deal of theory and not enough real world applicability. Some of the reading is difficult to digest.